The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the defection of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, accusing the ruling party of engineering the political crisis that forced him out of the PDP.
Both national and state PDP leaders reacted strongly, insisting that Fubara’s departure neither weakened the party nor altered its structure in Rivers State.
Fubara formally announced his move to the APC on Tuesday, joining several South-South governors — Delta’s Sheriff Oborevwori, Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno, Enugu’s Peter Mbah, and Bayelsa’s Douye Diri — who previously defected.
With Fubara’s switch, all six South-South states — Edo, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, and Cross River — are now under APC control.
During an emergency stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt, Fubara said he left the PDP because the party failed to protect him and that he remained in office thanks to President Bola Tinubu’s intervention.
Following a recent visit to the Presidential Villa, Fubara said Tinubu assured him of full support, adding that Rivers State has the numbers and loyalty to back the President.
He stressed that he did not want to “step on landmines” set for him, explaining that his decision was made in the interest of the state.
Fubara said, “We have the signal to leave where we are because we got no protection. Without Mr President, there would be no ‘His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara.’ Our only way of saying thank you is to support him — fully and openly.”
Immediately after announcing his defection, supporters in the hall chanted, “On your mandate we shall stand,” and Fubara ordered the PDP flag removed from the Government House.
He assured supporters he would not disappoint them and affirmed that Rivers residents were behind the decision.
Present at the meeting were top government officials, former ambassadors, and ex-local government chairmen who served under Fubara.
PDP Condemns Defection, Warns of Threat to Democracy
In a statement by National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong, the PDP said the situation in Rivers State reflected a broken democracy where powerful individuals override institutions and use federal power to suppress opponents.
The party accused the APC of shrinking the political space in pursuit of a one-party state, warning that Nigeria’s democracy was “under severe attack.”
It described Fubara’s defection as “pitiful,” insisting that his political troubles were self-inflicted and that he voluntarily chose a path that led to his current crisis.
The PDP warned that Fubara might fall into “Stockholm Syndrome,” becoming attached to those responsible for his predicament. It maintained that the PDP had stood firmly behind him until he “capitulated.”
Rivers PDP Faction Reacts
Robinson Ewor, factional chairman of the PDP in Rivers State, said Fubara’s defection was unsurprising, noting that the APC had already “captured” the state during the emergency rule imposed earlier in the year.
He argued that the emergency declaration was not due to a real crisis but a strategy to take control of Rivers State, pointing out that the APC conducted local government elections, took over 20 LGAs, and dissolved existing boards during the period.
Ewor maintained that the PDP remained intact in the state despite Fubara’s exit.
Background to the Crisis
Fubara’s strained relationship with former governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, escalated into a statewide political confrontation. On March 18, 2025, President Tinubu declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Fubara, his deputy, and all state lawmakers, while appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as sole administrator.
After emergency rule ended on September 18, tensions persisted.
On December 5, 2025, 16 state lawmakers defected from the PDP to the APC, backing Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. On December 8, 22 of 23 local government chairmen also pledged support for the President.
Recent local government elections conducted by the sole administrator saw the APC win 20 LGAs, while the PDP secured three.
Political analyst and former House of Representatives member Ogbonna Nwuke told The PUNCH that Fubara’s decision to join the APC was likely influenced by shifting political dynamics across the South-South.
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